neighbors, cricket, and fellowship

Tomorrow will be the last day, for a while, that John and I walk with Binesh down the street past our adopted neighbors, the newspaper salesman, and Hindu temple to the shop where we have tea. During our week in Chennai we have come to know many curious children on our street and been included in two cricket matches and a little soccer. For those folks we haven't met but observed from our office residence on the second floor we have given names or least noted their daily activities, whether it be delivering milk or "brooming" the street. "Calvin" often walks by barefooted and expressionless on his way to wherever a 4 four year old goes in India. He seems quite unfazed by motorists, gravel, hot pavement, and Americans.
John and I both count it a joy to have been included in this little community regardless of motivation (which I think would be curiosity when you find two Americans playing cricket with children on a street in Chennai.) We have been able to share songs and fellowship with the Word for the World staff here at the headquaters, and we have come to understand and appreciate even more these believers heart for Christ and others. We have shared with them from the Word a few times and have also discussed ways of studying God's revelation of Himself. I realize daily how different we are, yet a deep unity exists between us who have been called by the living God and share in the same Spirit.
We will return to Chennai and these wonderful people. I suspect I will get another chance to beat Jim Asir in Connect Four (which I haven't done yet, although we have played numerous times). But on Friday we fly to Mumbai and begin working in slum schools teaching, singing, and loving children.
As the blind pastor which we met today said many times "Strotum, Praise the Lord." Thank you for your prayers.